Cover Girl
This isn't a brand of makeup, but an order in Iraq, as in, "Cover, girl!" Because if you don't, you just might end up dead, and maybe even be murdered as your child looks on.
So, no blush, Iraqi ladies. And no makeup, and you'd better wear one of those giant Hefty bag thingies over your head with the little eyeholes cut out. From CNN.com:
The images in the Basra police file are nauseating: Page after page of women killed in brutal fashion -- some strangled to death, their faces disfigured; others beheaded. All bear signs of torture.The women are killed, police say, because they failed to wear a headscarf or because they ignored other "rules" that secretive fundamentalist groups want to enforce.
"Fear, fear is always there," says 30-year-old Safana, an artist and university professor. "We don't know who to be afraid of. Maybe it's a friend or a student you teach. There is no break, no security. I don't know who to be afraid of."
Her fear is justified. Iraq's second-largest city, Basra, is a stronghold of conservative Shia groups. As many as 133 women were killed in Basra last year -- 79 for violation of "Islamic teachings" and 47 for so-called honor killings, according to IRIN, the news branch of the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
One glance through the police file is enough to understand the consequences. Basra's police chief, Gen. Abdul Jalil Khalaf, flips through the file, pointing to one unsolved case after another. Video Watch Khalaf show evidence of the brutality »
"I think so far, we have been unable to tackle this problem properly," he says. "There are many motives for these crimes and parties involved in killing women, by strangling, beheading, chopping off their hands, legs, heads."
"When I came to Basra a year ago," he says, "two women were killed in front of their kids. Their blood was flowing in front of their kids, they were crying. Another woman was killed in front of her 6-year-old son, another in front of her 11-year-old child, and yet another who was pregnant."
The killers enforcing their own version of Islamic justice are rarely caught, while women live in fear.
Boldly splattered in red paint just outside the main downtown market, a chilling sign reads: "We warn against not wearing a headscarf and wearing makeup. Those who do not abide by this will be punished. God is our witness, we have notified you."
The attacks on the women of Basra have intensified since British forces withdrew to their base at the airport back in September, police say. Iraqi security forces took over after British troops pulled back, but are heavily infiltrated by militias.
Sick fucks.
Once again, who here thinks democracy is possible in barbarianville?
Interesting. I was just killing time tonight on youtube and I came across this Muslim girl. I hate seeing such a talented pretty face wearing a headscarf.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__WijGwYYmc
PurplePen at February 9, 2008 12:44 AM
> who here thinks democracy
> is possible in
> barbarianville?
Who thinks anybody has any choice about this? Who thinks your Barbarian Villagers are going to observe their boundaries of incorporation?
Crid at February 9, 2008 1:20 AM
I know I'll cop flak for this but here goes.
How many murders were there in total? What are the gender and age breakdowns of those murder victims? Are the numbers reported accurate numerically and in terms of proven motive? Are these the only murders carried out in the brutal manner described? What is the normal clearance rate in murder investigations in Iraq?
I've learned to not trust the western media, or even the UN, in it's reporting of local matters in muslim countries. It's worth remembering that the west is engaged in a phony war with Islam that is not unlike the cold war. There is also considerable internal political/religious strife within Iraq itself. Truth is always the first casualty and "what they will do to women" is always the first propaganda tool trotted out.
This disclaimer shouldn't be necessary but I am in no way a supporter of any regime that infringes on the liberties of individuals in the way many Mid East, and other, nations do.
Amy, in answer to your question...
Once again, who here thinks democracy is possible in barbarianville?
Yes, but only if they manage to fully separate church from state. This is one of the pre-requisites for real democracy as our own western history has demonstrated time and again. I don't believe it will happen at the point of western guns however.
gwallan at February 9, 2008 5:45 AM
A functioning Democracy is a worthwhile goal but it's a long road that requires fundamental changes in the way people think. It requires even greater changes in the politicians because it represents a shift in power. It's not hard to imagine that those with power now aren't eager to give it up (McCain-Feingold anyone?).
I think many people have a much rosier view our democratic progression than is warranted. IIRC, only about 30% of the populace supported the Revolutionary War, the 70% non-supporters figured (a) they'd be better of with the Brits running the show or (b) it didn't matter who ran the show (this was, undoubtedly, the predominate view). The War was won and we became a democracy that allowed slavery (cultural norm, sign of the times, I understand all of that), then about 100 years into our existence the mass conscience said "slavery is inconsistent with a democracy" and, after another War, slavery was banished from the land and democracy inched forward. Then the Democrats started enacting "Jim Crow Laws" to restrict the voting rights of blacks and democracy slid backward. Then, after another 100 years, the mass conscience said "equal is equal, Jim Crow has to go" and democracy again inched forward. Then the Democrats invented "Affirmative Action" that said "some are more equal than others" and democracy again slid backwards.
Aside from the fact that we're a Representative Republic, we've been working for 230 years to develop a democracy and we're not there yet. It's a bit unreasonable to expect that the Iraqis could manage the feat in 5 years. We should also remember that one of our political parties is fundamentally opposed to Democracy, the oddly named Democratic Party; if all are truly equal then how can I vilify one segment of the population while rewarding another? A functioning Democracy requires that all people believe that they are equal and that they share the burden of advancing the country; a functioning Democracy doesn't steal from one citizen for the benefit of another.
Curly Smith at February 9, 2008 5:52 AM
They kill little girls in Toronto and Texas for not wearing the hijab. Here's another talking to the BBC about it:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7095476.stm
Amy Alkon at February 9, 2008 6:19 AM
Good observations re "democracy" Curly.
I was going to ask a rhetorical question as to how many westerners believe we have true freedom or democracy. I thought better of it ultimately.
Overall I'm quite worried about our western form of democracy. The modern intersection of "in your face", "short attention span", idealogically sound, news-as-entertainment media with politics is unhealthy in my mind. Power is increasingly the preserve of the monied, who always had it anyway, and the spin merchants who would eat their own children for gain. We need to find a way other than "elections" for a start.
Back in Iraq meanwhile...
One thing is apparent about the middle east if you look at the actual formal systems rather than the all too numerous religious nuts. While they may operate to absurd laws in many instances they are inclined to apply their rancid punishments equally which can't be said for our own so-called justice systems.
gwallan at February 9, 2008 7:08 AM
You want to see "short attention span," here are German high school kids who don't remember Communism:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/opinion/04cohen.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=east+berlin&st=nyt&oref=slogin
Amy Alkon at February 9, 2008 7:17 AM
Yes Amy, we need to remember the history. We need to teach something approximating the truth instead of the officially sanctioned PC revisionism that is all the rage. This goes for all information including the media and government. The inquisitions and witch hunts have never really left us. They continue on with different targets and subtler instruments of torture but they continue nontheless. Give Muslim inquisitors the same tools and their tortures would be the same as ours.
gwallan at February 9, 2008 7:41 AM
Jesus, Amy. I'm only 33 but that communism article made me feel about 1,000 years old. After I ran through the math, I realized it's like some journo in 1992 pestering my high school class about Vietnam and Nixon so I'm giving the kids a bit of slack. I bet the "what's that" kid was pulling his leg.
SeanH at February 9, 2008 7:58 AM
Actually Sean, I wouldn't think you a wiseass at all. You are quite correct. Oh, except that they don't have much water(a situation we Aussies are quite au fait with.) at all.
Their state of affairs is probably the exemplar for the need of that separation. Ironically the only mid eastern leader who ever showed any inclination toward a more secular society is the lunatic we've just removed. Note the Basra mother's comment about mini skirted teachers in the seventies. Saddam was the west's golden haired boy in the ME for quite a long time. His problems started when he escalated the tribal sect based conflicts. These have escalated again in his absence with resort to extremism on all sides. This is partly why I would like to know the overall murder numbers rather than only the obviously-far-more-serious murders of women.
Serious question. Since 1990 how many Iraqi men have met violent deaths? We can almost certainly find reasonably accurate numbers for women because of their default non-combatant or civilian status. This status is denied any male over twelve years of age.
When Hillary Clinton said that women and children were the real victims of war she wasnt kidding. This is the way many of the UN umbrella organisations present their data. Apply to all men the designation "combatants" and, voila, they are not "real" victims.
Gendercide Watch is well worth a look. They have a rather good, if stomach churning, section on "Honour" Killings and Blood Feuds but the whole site is worthy of attention.
gwallan at February 9, 2008 9:10 AM
All this death and violence against women an d NOW is more concerend with the political fallout of Pappas calling all men the world over gang rapists
http://glennsacks.com/blog/?p=1777
lujlp at February 9, 2008 10:52 AM
It is disgusting what people do to eachother!! Sounds like when the KKK ran rampant...only here it's women being lynched.
another at February 11, 2008 7:03 AM
Democracy may not be possible in Iraq. But this article just underscores how many people there are in Iraq who truly would like there to be. Is it their fault they are being preyed upon by gangs of bloodthirsty sickos?
Even if you don't think it is worth our while to intervene on their behalf (as it seems the British don't), can you really look them in the eye and say, sorry, ladies, you deserve to get hacked to pieces because you are just part of barbarianville?
Much of Europe may become like this in a few years. Will we say the same thing to Europeans then? How long before we are saying the same thing to certain parts of the US?
You may not think it is worth putting our foot down about this in Iraq, but we're going to have to put our foot down somewhere sooner or later. The borders of "barbarianville" are not permanent. They will shift one way or the other.
Naif Mabat at February 11, 2008 12:30 PM
Purplepen, loved that video! She was beautifully artistic in her rebellion. That was truly, "I am woman here me roar!" as in a picture paints a thousand words.
lujlp Pappas was right about one thing: "Anyone who knows me knows that I, along with my NOW-NYS organization, will continue to speak the truth without apology." I know her; she's the main reason I dropped out of NOW. Trust me, she means it; she will continue to act without thinking.
Donna at February 12, 2008 10:50 AM
Leave a comment